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System and methods for electronic commerce using personal and business networks

  • US 9,805,425 B2
  • Filed: 01/09/2013
  • Issued: 10/31/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of forming and utilizing a website for an electronic community, the method comprising:

  • providing a computer system that hosts the web site, the computer system having a processor, a server, a memory and a specialized software stored in the memory which is specifically configured to allow the server to interface with users and allow the users to operate the computer system, and form and utilize the electronic community according to the following method;

    registering a plurality of users on the computer system connected to a communications network, each of the plurality of users being electronically interconnected so that the plurality of users form a community of users, said computer system having a data storage medium formed by a server cluster that provides high performance storage;

    receiving and processing with the processor of the computer system listing information for products offered for sale by users in the community;

    making the listing information available on a website hosted by the computer system;

    processing with the processor of the computer system electronic commerce between users of the community conducted through the web site for the products associated with the product listings;

    forming an electronic business network of business relationships for the community using the processor based upon the electronic commerce with the plurality of users conducted through the web site hosted by the computer system, wherein the business networks of business relationships are formed when (I) electronic commerce with other users in the community conducted through the web site such that the only users included in a user'"'"'s business network are those other users with whom that user has either sold to, purchased from, or both, products offered for sale in the listing information posted on the web site, and (ii) mutual agreement between the user and those other users to join each other'"'"'s business network;

    making business ratings of electronic commerce with other users within the community and storing said business ratings in the server cluster;

    sharing, via the processor that accesses the server cluster, the business network and the business ratings among the plurality of users within the community;

    receiving from a first user within the community a request inviting a second user within the community to join the first user'"'"'s business network so that the first user is provided with the business relationships of the second user;

    sending a confirmation to the invited second user of association with the first user that invited the second user;

    receiving a request from a third party user who is registered in the community and browsing another user'"'"'s business network, the third party user and said another user sharing at least one other user that is in both the third party user'"'"'s and said another user'"'"'s business networks, then allowing the third party user to see at least one of the users within the community that link the third party user and said another user, thereby indicating to the third party user how the third party user is connected to said another user;

    forming an electronic personal network of personal relationships for the community, of users that engage one another through personal electronic interaction with other users, wherein the personal network and the business network are individually maintained as unique entities of a first user and at least one other user may access both of the first user'"'"'s personal network and business network;

    making personal ratings of non-commercial electronic interactions with other users within the community and storing said personal ratings in the data storage medium; and

    sharing both the personal ratings and the business ratings among the plurality of users within the community on the website.

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